Chapter 25 Twenty five

Chapter 25 Twenty five
REINA’S POV

The doorbell rang at exactly eight o’clock. My heart jumped into my throat. I smoothed my hands down the emerald silk dress one last time, took a steadying breath, and walked to the foyer. Gran had insisted on a dramatic entrance, so she opened the door herself while I waited just out of sight.

Orion stepped inside wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, crisp white shirt open at the collar, no tie. His hair was still slightly damp from a shower, and the faint scent of his cologne drifted ahead of him. He looked devastating.

Then he saw me.

He stopped moving entirely. His gaze traveled from my loose waves of hair down the fitted bodice of the dress, over the way the silk clung to my waist and hips, then lower to the slit that revealed one leg with every step. When his eyes finally lifted to mine again they were dark, almost reverent, and so full of heat that my skin prickled.

Gran laughed softly beside him.

“Well, Orion, say something. You’re gaping like a schoolboy.”

He swallowed visibly. His voice came out rougher than usual.

“You look… incredible.”

I felt the blush climb from my chest to my cheeks. I stepped closer, heels clicking softly on the marble.

“Thank you.”

He offered his arm without another word. I slipped my hand through it, feeling the tension in his muscles, the way his fingers flexed against my forearm like he was fighting not to pull me closer right there in the foyer.

Gran watched us with bright eyes.

“Don’t keep her out too late, darling. She has etiquette class in the morning.”

Orion managed a small smile. “I’ll have her home by midnight.”

Gran leaned in and kissed my cheek. “Enjoy yourself, Reina. You deserve every second of this.”

We walked to the car. Orion opened the door for me, his hand lingering at the small of my back a fraction longer than necessary. The touch sent a shiver up my spine. When he slid into the driver’s seat beside me, the air inside the car felt charged, thick with everything we had been holding back.

He drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on the gear shift. Every few minutes his fingers twitched, as though he wanted to reach for my thigh instead. I caught him glancing at me more than once, eyes dark with appreciation and something deeper.

“You keep looking at me like that,” I said softly.

“Like what?”

“Like you want to pull over and ravish me on the side of the road.”

His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.

“I do.”

I smiled. “Good to know.”

The sky diner was perched on the top floor of an old art deco building, glass walls on three sides offering a panoramic view of the city lights below.

Orion had booked the entire place. It was just us and soft piano music drifting from a grand piano in the corner, candles flickering on white linens, and a single photographer discreetly positioned near the windows.

Orion pulled out my chair. His fingers brushed the back of my neck as I sat, sending sparks down my spine. He took his seat across from me, gaze never leaving my face.

“You’re beautiful,” he said quietly. “Every time I look at you I’m reminded how lucky I am.”

My throat tightened. “You make me feel beautiful.”

Dinner arrived in courses: chilled lobster bisque, seared scallops, filet with truffle butter, and finally a chocolate soufflé that melted on the tongue. We made small talk and in between bites he reached across the table to brush his thumb over my knuckles, a small constant touch that kept me grounded and aching at the same time.

When the plates were cleared the pianist began a slow, romantic melody. Orion stood and offered his hand.

“Dance with me?”

I placed my hand in his. He led me to the open space near the piano, pulling me close. One arm wrapped around my waist, the other held my hand against his chest. We swayed gently, bodies pressed together from chest to thigh. I could feel his heartbeat under my palm, fast and unsteady.

“Reina,” he murmured against my hair. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

He stepped back just enough to reach into his pocket. When he opened the small velvet box my breath caught.

A single emerald-cut diamond sat in a platinum setting, flanked by two smaller stones. Simple. Elegant. Perfect.

He dropped to one knee.

“I love you,” he said. His voice was steady but thick with emotion. “I love your chaos, your kindness, your strength, the way you turned my life upside down and made it better. I want forever with you. I want to wake up beside you every morning, argue with you over coffee, build a home with you, raise children with you, grow old with you. Marry me, Reina. Please.”

Tears blurred my vision. I laughed through them, joy bubbling up so fast I could barely speak.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, Orion. Yes.”

He slid the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly. Then he stood, cupped my face with both hands, and kissed me.

The kiss was deep and slow and full of everything we had been holding back. His tongue stroked mine, hands sliding into my hair, tilting my head to take the kiss deeper. I pressed against him, arms around his neck, fingers threading through his hair. The world narrowed to the heat of his mouth, the taste of him, the way his body fit against mine like it was made to.

Behind us the photographer cleared his throat politely. Orion broke the kiss just long enough to glare over my shoulder.

“Out,” he said, voice rough. “Now.”

The photographer vanished.

Orion kissed me again, harder this time. I moaned softly into his mouth. His hands roamed my back, pulling me impossibly closer. We kissed until we were both breathless, foreheads pressed together, hearts hammering.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.”

We managed to sit and finish the soufflé, feeding each other bites between soft kisses. L When the last bite was gone he stood and offered his hand again.

“Let’s go home.”

The drive back was quiet. His hand rested on my thigh the entire way, thumb stroking slow circles over the silk. Every touch sent sparks through me. By the time we reached the penthouse I was trembling with want.

We stepped inside. Bessie bleated a sleepy greeting from her corner. Orion locked the door, turned to me, and pulled me into another kiss. This one was slower, deeper, full of promise.

“I can’t bear to be apart from you tonight,” I whispered against his lips. “Please let me sleep in your room. Just sleep, I won't do anything naughty.”

He rested his forehead against mine. His breathing was uneven.

“You’re trying to kill me.”

“I just want to be close to my husband.”

He exhaled roughly, then nodded.

“Come on.”

We walked to his bedroom hand in hand. He helped me out of the dress, fingers lingering on every inch of skin revealed. I stood in lace lingerie, heart pounding. He stripped to his boxers, eyes dark with hunger as he looked at me.

We slid under the covers. He pulled me against his chest, my back to his front, arm banded around my waist. I could feel his erection pressed against my lower back. I shifted slightly and he groaned low in his throat.

“Reina.”

“Sorry,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sorry at all.

He kissed the back of my neck. “Sleep. We have two weeks.”

I closed my eyes, safe in his arms, body still thrumming with need.

Sleep was difficult.

ORION’S POV

She curled against me like she belonged there. Her back pressed to my chest, her hair spilling across my pillow, her scent wrapping around me. The lace of her underwear brushed my thigh every time she shifted. I was painfully hard, cock throbbing against the small of her back. Every breath she took pushed her ass against me. Every sigh made my control fray further.

I focused on breathing. In and out, slow and steady.

She murmured something soft in her sleep and pressed closer. Her thigh slid over mine. The movement dragged lace against skin. I bit the inside of my cheek.

Two weeks.

I could survive two weeks.

I can only fully claim her after our wedding vows. After promises. After she was mine in every way that mattered.

I pressed my lips to her shoulder, barely there.

She sighed and snuggled deeper.

I closed my eyes and prayed for dawn.